Jazz Winnipeg Launches New Edition of Innovative Nu Sounds Series

Music fans have some new music to look forward to in the new year. Or maybe we should say nu year…

Jazz Winnipeg has unveiled details for the latest edition of its innotivative Nu Sounds Series, which gives homegrown talent the unique opportunity to explore new, risky ideas, and connect with new fans. The Park Theatre will once again host the four-concert series, which runs January through April.

Award-winning guitarist Marco Castillo kicks things off on January 17 with a tribute to eclectic post-bossa pioneer Hermato Pascoal, paying homage to his hero’s innovative sound and playing some originals inspired by the Pascoal sound.

Guitarist/composer Keith Price returns to Nu Sounds on February 19 to join forces with some local luminaries -- including vocalists Erin Propp, Red Moon Road's Sheena Rattai, and Sol James' Heitha Forsyth -- to present a songbook of contemporary indie/pop music, putting their own spin on songs by artists like Alabama Shakes, Wilco, Sufjan Stevens, and The Weakerthans.

Collection Get, a collaboration between Casati's jazz vocalist Grace Hrabi and techno composer Eliot Britton, will present their mashup of swing and electronica called "Swing Out" - accompanied on stage by the production and animation of live visual art on March 26.

The series wraps up on April 23 with Amber Epp's jazz interpretation of The Great Canadian Songbook, transforming songs from legends like Leonard Cohen, The Guess Who, and Joni Mitchell while infusing the set with tunes by contemporary artists like Tegan and Sara and Feist.

"The Nu Sounds series is incredible in that it makes room for work that's creative and fosters the types of audacious projects that musicians might not be able to take a risk on otherwise. The results are always astounding, challenging, and exciting for audiences to witness and I think this year's lineup is no different," said Jazz Winnipeg's executive director Lynne Stefanchuk in a release.